Half to wallace hallowell



(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. W. MILLS. v

FIRE ESCAPE.

N0. 282,35l.' Patented July 31, 1883;

5&1.

WITNESSES III/VENTO/i' MggM/Wm A H0 rney (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

C. W. MILL'S.

FIRE ESCAPE. No. 282,351. Patented July 31, 1883.

WITNESSES 0 I/VVE/VTOH 6 W 7g? 1 ya Attorney UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. MILLS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG-NOR OF ONE- HALF TO WALLACE HALLOWELL,. OF SAME PLACE.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 282,351, dated July 31, 1883.

Application filed January 29, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. MILLs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented new and i 5 useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved ornamental fire-escape, the shell or case of which is adapted to be secured to a building as a fixed part of the structure; and the novelty consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

The invention consists, essentially, in two drnamental semi circular or polygonal heads having their faces turned in opposite directions, and having ornamental ends. These ends or projections are preferably formed of struck-up sheet metal properly sanded to represent stone-work, or they may be made of stone or other material. Between the heads is secured a cylindrical bar, to which is secured a rope ladder having stiff rungs andconvenient handles for the use of persons descending. The space between the heads is sufficient to receive and house the ladder, and a sectionalhinged cover is adapted to inclose the ladder and be secured in a closed condition by means of a hook and catch. A weighted rope is attached to the lower extremity of the latter, which, being grasped by the spectators or firemen, enables the ladder to be drawn outward from the building, or toward either side, to protect the descending party or parties from the contact of flames issuing from the lower windows. The ornamental heads and sectional lid or cover form a very sightly appearance, and, being secured directly below the sill of the window, add to the architectural beauty of the building.

The invention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of *this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view with the box closed and the ladder housed; Fig. 2, a front view, with the box open and the ladder extended; and Fig. 3, a cross-section through the box closed. t

Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all stone.

the figures, A indicates the front of a building, having a window-frame, B, with gothic upper portions, and a sill, b, as shown. O designates the heads, having faces cfront ing each other, and ornamental ends 0 extending outwardly therefrom. These ornamental ends are preferably formed of struck up sheet metal properly sanded to represent Between the faces 0 is secured a bar,

D, to which is secured the upperend of arop'e 6o ladder, E, composed of the ropes c and stiff rungs e. To the lower end of this ladder E is secured a weighted rope, F, which by its gravity will tend to hold the ladder in an upright position, and by means of which the lad- .65

der may be forced away from flames which may issue from windows below.

Upon the bar D are secured handles (Z, for the convenience of persons who desire to descend, and a similar hand-hold is secured to thesill of the window.

In connection with the gothic upper portion of the window, the box holding or housing the ladder presents a very sightly appearance, and the device adds greatly to the architectural beauty of the building.

The sectional lid or cover H is hinged at 71, and is secured by means of a hook and catch, h.

Modifications in details of construction may be made without departing from the principle or' sacrificing the advantages of my invention, the essential features of which lie in the ornamental shellor box in its relation to the contour of the window-frame, and in the weighted rope F. 8 5

I am aware that it is not broadly new with me to provide a fire-escape ladder adapted to be housed in a box suspended beneath the sill of a window but such contrivances have generally been unsightly and tended to shock 0 good taste, while the weighted rope has never been employed, to my knowledge.

It must be understood that the ornamental box or housing for the ladder is built permanently in the masonry, and is therefore not liable to displacement by wind, or from other cause.

What I claim is I 1. A fire-escape composed of the fixed heads built as a permanent part of the building, with 100.

- suitable ornaments, a rigid bar, D, having its ends fixed to the heads, a flexible ladder composed of rungsvand ropes attached .to the bar, and a sectional jointed cover closely hinged to the wall of the building, beneath the rigid bar, and adapted to fold around and constitute a bottom, side, and top, to furnish a housing in conjunction with the fixed heads, with suitable fastening devices for securing the free edge of the sectional cover in its'closed'position, substantially as described.

2. A fire-escape composed of eXteriorly-ornamented heads 0, built, as a permanent part of abuilding, directly beneath a window-sill, a rigid ladder-supporting bar, D, having its ends fixed to the heads, a rope ladder having one end secured to the rigid bar and its other end provided with aweighted rope, and a sectional jointed cover closely hinged to the wall of the building, beneath the rigid ladder-sup porting bar, and adapted to fold around the ladder to constitute a bottom, side, and top, to furnish ahousing in conjunction with the fixed heads, and suitable means for confining the sectional cover in its closed position, substantially'as described.

' 3. A fire-escape composed of two heads, 0,

built, as a permanent partof a building, directly beneath the window-sill, a rigid bar, D,

having. its ends fixed to the heads, and pro- 0 vided with a projecting handle to be grasped by the hand, a flexible ladder composed of ropes and rungs, and having one end secured to the rigid bar, and a sectional jointed cover closely hinged to the wall of the building, un- 5 der the fixed heads, and adapted to fold around to constitute a housing in conjunction with said heads, substantially as shown and described.

4:. The fire-escape herein described,consisting of the ladder E, composed of ropes e and 0 stiff rungs e, and having weighted rope F, the ornamental heads 0, having faces 0, the bar D, having handles (1, and the sectional lid or cover H, having fastening devices h, all constructed, arranged, and combined to serve with 4 5 a window-frame, B I), as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing wit- 

